Control of Japanese Encephalitis — Within Our Grasp?

The second half of 2005 saw one of the largest outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis that has occurred in northern India in recent years. Cases were first reported in the state of Uttar Pradesh in July 2005; by November, there had been nearly 5000 cases and 1300 deaths, as well as outbreaks in neighboring Nepal. At the height of the outbreak, some hospitals had no beds available, and even their corridors were full of patients.¹ Although the number of cases was especially high for this part of India, for Asia as a whole, the outbreak was nothing new. Unusual outbreaks of . . .